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AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti is making the case for Army to be included in this year’s College Football Playoff field.
Army is fresh off of a blowout win in Tulane in the AAC Championship Game on Friday night. The Black Knights are now 11-1 on the season going into next week’s annual rivalry game with Navy.
However, Army is on the outside-looking-in of the CFP discussion. Amy entered the week ranked behind all 10 teams who are playing conference championships this weekend in the Power-4 leagues and the Mountain West. With only 5 conference champs guaranteed to earn a spot in the field, the Black Knights would need to earn an at-large berth in order to make the bracket.
While it’s exceptionally unlikely for Army to jump from No. 24 into an at-large berth, that didn’t stop Pernetti from making the case that the Black Knights deserve a spot over any 3-loss programs.
“The so-called hierarchy in college football is not relevant, There are 9 conferences competing in FBS,” he said Saturday. “The playoff is about putting in the best programs. We don’t understand the logic of 3 loss teams being considered over Army.”
AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti on 11-1 Army & CFP: “The so-called hierarchy in college football is not relevant, There are 9 conferences competing in FBS. The playoff is about putting in the best programs. We don’t understand the logic of 3 loss teams being considered over Army.”
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 7, 2024
Pernetti seems to be referencing 9-3 Alabama, who is currently in line to receive the final at large berth in the College Football Playoff (although that could change depending on the outcome of Saturday’s games).
Entering conference championship weekend, Army was ranked behind a total of 8 teams with 3 losses on the season. Army’s strength-of-schedule this season ranks 94th nationally, per ESPN’s Football Power Index.
The final CFP field will be revealed on Sunday afternoon.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
